24 
nil but 296 had been rendered worthless by insects. The reduc¬ 
tion of yield in oil was 32*8 per cent. In Germany, according to 
Latreille, the larva of a species of moth ( phdUena monacha) con¬ 
sumed whole forests. In Eastern Prussia, three years ago, more 
than 24,000,000 cubic metres of fir had to be cut down because 
the trees were attacked by insects. Man is unable to cope with 
these destroyers of the produce of his labour. His eye is too dull 
to perceive, and his hand too slow to catch them. Without the 
aid of birds he would be vanquished in the struggle. The com¬ 
mission excludes birds of prey, such as magpies, ravens, Ac., with 
the exception of buzzards and rooks, from the benefit of its pro¬ 
tection, because the buzzard consumes about 6000 mice yearly, 
and the rook an incalculable amount of white worms. Sparrows 
are restored, and their usefulness shown by reference to the fact 
that when their destruction was attempted in Hungary winged 
insects increased so rapidly that rewards for the destruction of 
sparrows were suppressed, and given for bringing them hack. 
Frederick the Great ordered the destruction of sparrows, because 
they ate his cherries; but in two years’ time lie found his cherries, 
and all other fruits, consumed by caterpillars. In a sparrow’s 
nest on a terrace in the Rue Vivienne were found the remains of 
'00 cockchafers. Owls and birds of that class, which agricultural 
ignorance pursues as birds of evil omen, ought to be welcomed. 
They are ten times more useful than the best cats, and not 
dangerous to the larder. The martens that were killed were 
found to have in their stomachs the remains of 543 insects. It 
recommended a prohibition of bird-nesting, and destruction of 
eggs or young birds. The petitions were referred to the Minister 
of Commerce and Public Works. 
There is an elegant bird among the gallinacece which might 
be introduced into this country—the curassow (crax caruncidata), 
a native of South America, ranging from Southern Mexico to the 
southern confines of Brazil. 1 here are about a dozen species ot 
this bird. They are as large as'a turkey, and as they endure the 
climate of England, with very moderate protection, they could 
easily be acclimatised in Australia. In the last century they 
were reared in Holland and brought to table, and at present 
several instances are known of their breeding freely in the vicinity 
of Paris. Their introduction would certainly be most desirable, 
not merely on account of their size and beauty, but also for the 
whiteness and excellence of the flesh, which is said by those who 
l ave eaten it to surpass that of the guinea fowl or of the pheasant 
m the delicacy of its flavour. 
